Jason Pfeifer is the orchestra director for Heritage High School and White Pine Middle School. The HHS philharmonic orchestra has been invited to the 2013 American String Teachers Association festival in Providence, Rhode Island.Jeff Schrier | MLive.com

“It’s a big honor because we’ll be playing for all sorts of orchestra teachers (from) throughout the U.S.” said Jason Pfeifer, orchestra director at Heritage High School and White Pine Middle School.

The festival is to take place in Providence, Rhode Island, in February. The Heritage High School Philharmonic Orchestra is one of 20 groups that have been invited, and one of four in the high school string category, he said.

Pfeifer said the group will leave on a Tuesday morning and return on a Sunday morning. The trip will also include a visit to Niagara Falls. The cost per student will be about $900.

Pfeifer said there are 43 students in the philharmonic orchestra, but 13 have opted out of going.

To help with the cost, the orchestra is asking for donations of clean clothing in reasonable condition, shoes, soft toys, belts, purses, drapes and linen, for a Bag2School fundraiser. Bag2School purchases the donated materials and then recycles them.

Donations can be dropped off at the main office at Heritage High School, at 3465 N. Center. Bag2School will pick up the donated items about 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, Pfeifer said.

“We’ve never done anything this big before,” Pfeifer said. “I hope the students appreciate and enjoy the trip they’re going on, and realize how big of an honor it is once they get there.”

Pfeifer also encouraged area residents to attend Heritage High School's orchestra concert to take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13. The concert is free and open to the public.

The YouTube video below features the Heritage High School philharmonic and concert orchestras performing at a Saginaw Spirit game in 2010:

This second YouTube video features the Heritage High School philharmonic
and concert orchestras performing in Chicago this year: